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The Review of English Studies Advance Access originally published online on September 10, 2007
The Review of English Studies 2008 59(239):185-196; doi:10.1093/res/hgm089
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© The Author 2007. Published by Oxford University Press 2007; all rights reserved

On Dating the Duchess: The Personal and Social Context of Book of the Duchess

Michael Foster

The University of Nottingham


  Abstract

The Book of the Duchess is usually dated to various points between 1368 and 1374. This article suggests that these various datings imply different interpretations of the poem, because at some point in this period John of Gaunt began an affair with Katherine Swynford, Geoffrey Chaucer's sister-in-law and governess to the children of Gaunt and Blanche, duchess of Lancaster, whose death is the topic of the text. This article explores how dating Book of the Duchess to before or after their affair began alters our understanding of Chaucer's representations of himself and Gaunt and his intentions in writing this literary tribute.


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